MSN Programs in Tennessee

By EveryNurse Staff on January 16, 2023

The nursing industry is one of the fastest expanding fields in the United States. This is in an effort to supply an exploding population with the necessary healthcare they require. Being an integral part of this community is rewarding for a variety of reasons. Those with the qualifications to provide advanced patient care are the ones that are making a difference in the lives of adults, children, families, women and elderly members of society in every specialization.

In addition to this, they are able to revolutionize the industry in a positive way – through education, leadership, administration, systems management and more. There is a myriad of benefits for those willing to pursue their education and obtain their Master’s degree in nursing. We have done the necessary research for you and list every school that offers an MSN program within the State of Tennessee.

Schools With MSN Programs in Tennessee

Belmont University and their School of Nursing offer an MSN program that boasts CCNE accreditation. Students in this program qualify as Family Nurse Practitioners. All the courses use online learning, but classes also meet two or three times a week. Part-time and full-time study options are available. It will take four semesters (or one an half years) for full-time students to complete the program. Those in the part-time option will finish in seven semesters (or twenty-seven months). Please make direct contact with the school to find out the details of their application deadline dates.

A CCNE-accredited MSN program is available through the Department of Nursing at Carson-Newman University. Students will qualify for roles as Family Nurse Practitioners or Nurse Educators. Classes are attended onsite. The program is taught over the course of five semesters. Please contact the school to find out exactly what their deadlines for applications are.

The College of Nursing at East Tennessee State University offers an MSN program that focuses on preparing aspiring Clinical Nurse Leaders. Accredited by CCNE, the curriculum is delivered online and onsite in a blended format; and students can opt for either part or full-time study. Full-time students will complete the program in five semesters, while part-time students usually take about two years. February 1st is the deadline for entry into the Fall semester. July 1st is the final deadline when applying for the Spring semester. Applications for the Summer semester close on December 1st.

King University offers an MSN program that is accredited by CCNE. Students can choose to specialize as Family Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Educators or Nurse Administrators. Those pursuing education or administration will have their courses delivered online and attend occasional onsite classes. Those studying as practitioners will attend class once a week onsite. While students are able to continue working professionally during the course of the program, they will need to take between eight and twelve courses each semester. This is considered full-time. Educators and Administrators will complete the program in twenty months, while Practitioners will take two years. To be eligible for an early decision, apply before February 1st. May 1st is the absolute final deadline date.

The Caylor School of Nursing at Lincoln Memorial University offers three concentrations in their MSN program. Accredited by ACEN, the Family Nurse Practitioner and Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks are available part-time. The Nurse Anesthesia track is accredited by CANAEP and only available for full-time study. Nurse Anesthetists will complete their Masters in twenty-eight months. The practitioner programs can be finished in seventeen months. While the deadline for applications into the Nurse Anesthesia program is February 1st, please contact the school to inquire about the practitioner deadline dates.

A fully CANAEP accredited Nurse Anesthesia track is offered in the MSN program at Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia. It requires full-time attendance for classes and the practical component occurs at various clinical sites. This is a twenty-eight month program. Classes begin in July each year and applications for acceptance close on October 31st of the previous year.

A CCNE accredited MSN program is available through the School of Nursing at Middle Tennessee State University. Students are able to study online and qualify in Nursing Informatics, Nursing Education, Nursing Administration or Nursing Advanced Practice. Study plans are arranged prior to beginning the program. Most students achieve their degree in between two and three years. This will depend on how many courses are taken each semester and which specialization is chosen. To inquire about their deadline dates for applications, please contact the school.

The School of Nursing offers an ACEN accredited MSN program at Southern Adventist University. The emphasis is on Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners, Family Nurse Practitioners, and Nurse Educators. While there is an online option for those pursuing the education track; all the other concentrations require onsite attendance. There are options for studying full or part-time. On average, students complete the program in approximately two years. For detailed information regarding their latest deadline dates, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

The Tennessee Board of Regents is an online campus that offers MSN programs through six universities. Their ACEN accredited tracks include Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Informatics. The semester credit hours required differ according to the specialization. They range from thirty-six credits to forty-six. There are flexible study options, but most students complete the program in around two years or more. The consortium of universities has varying deadline dates applicable to them. Please contact the school directly to inquire about these details.

Tennessee State University offers an MSN program through their Division of Nursing. Fully accredited by ACEN; the program consists of three concentrations. Students prepare for careers as Holistic Nurses, Nursing Educators or Family Nurse Practitioners. There are various study options including onsite day or evening classes, as well as online courses. Although there are full-time and part-time options, most students complete the program in six semesters (or two years). Applications close on July 15th for entry into the Fall semester. Those applying for the Spring semester must submit applications before November 15th. Entries into the Summer semester close on March 15th.

The College of Nursing offers an MSN program with an emphasis on the Clinical Nurse Leader concentration at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Courses are attended at the Memphis campus and some are delivered online. Students have two study options to choose from. The program will be completed in one year of full-time study or two years if studying part-time. It consists of thirty-two semester credit hours. Please contact the school to inquire about their deadline dates for applications.

The University of Tennessee in Chattanooga has two MSN tracks available through their School of Nursing. Accredited by CCNE, the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration has options for part-time study; but the CANAEP accredited Nurse Anesthesia track involves a dedication to full-time study. The Nurse Anesthesia program will be completed in twenty-seven months. Those pursuing the Family Nurse Practitioner specialization will take six semesters to finish it. Please inquire about their deadline dates from the school directly.

An MSN program is offered through the College of Nursing at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Seven CCNE accredited tracks are available that include a variety of practitioner concentrations. Students are able to pursue their studies part-time, except those in the CANAEP accredited Nurse Anesthesia program; which involves onsite attendance on a full-time basis. This will depend on the study option chosen, as well as the specialty. Students complete some concentrations in as little as a year, while others require two years or more. Anesthetist students will take thirty-one months to obtain their degree. Applications must be submitted well before the February 1st deadline.

Union University has an MSN program on offer through their School of Nursing. Three CCNE accredited tracks prepare students for Nurse Practitioner roles in the family, adult, and pediatric nursing. There are also Nurse Educator and Nurse Administrator tracks available; as well as a CANAEP accredited Nurse Anesthetist option. Those studying anesthesia will need to attend class onsite on a full-time basis; while the other tracks have part-time options and can either be studied completely online or in a hybrid format of campus visits as well. Anesthetists will complete their degree in twenty-eight months. Practitioners will take between two and three years; while educators and administrators can complete the program sooner if studying full-time. To obtain details about their application process, please contact the school to inquire.

The Loewenberg School of Nursing at the University of Memphis is accredited by CCNE and offers an MSN program with the following tracks: Nursing Informatics, Nursing Education, Nursing Executive, Nursing Administration, and Family Nurse Practitioner. All courses are delivered online and students may choose their plan of study. Between thirty-six and forty-six semester credit hours need to be completed in order to obtain the degree. The exact number depends on the specialty being pursued and whether it is being studied part-time or full-time. Generally, the program is completed in two or three years. Applications for the Fall semester must be submitted before February 15th. Applications for the Spring semester must be completed prior to October 1st.

An ACEN accredited MSN program is available through the School of Nursing at Vanderbilt University. The program focuses on every concentration imaginable. Students specialize in a variety of Nursing Practitioner roles; while there are several leadership tracks on offer as well. There are flexible study plans for working nurses and many courses are delivered online, but onsite attendance is also required. Your choice of specialty will determine the length of the program, along with the number of courses you are able to take each semester. Some tracks can be completed in a year of full-time study, while others will require two years or more. Part-time students study according to a prearranged study schedule. Applications are reviewed as they arrive until the cohort is full. Submit all materials as early as possible to secure a place.

Tennessee MSN Checklist

Applying for acceptance into these programs involves closely adhering to the specific application procedures of the school. There are also several requirements that you will need to have before being eligible for consideration. A select number of students are chosen for each cohort and classes are small. This means that the most promising students are chosen first and there are conditional acceptance policies in place for those that are suitable yet lack the necessary criteria. There are also pathways for entry if you do not have your Bachelors degree. These options will secure a place in the program while you obtain the relevant prerequisites. This is what you will need when applying to an MSN program in Tennessee:

A similarly accredited university or college must have provided you with your completed BSN degree.
Official transcripts from each college or university ever attended must be submitted.
Three letters of recommendation are required. They must be from relevant academic and professional sources.
Your resume must be updated and describe all past and present experiences and achievements in academics, professional and voluntary escapades.
Some schools may require professional experience to be a minimum of two years, but the majorities insist on this being one year.
Licensure to practice as a registered nurse in Tennessee must be unrestricted and valid.
You will need to have completed statistics, research and healthcare assessment courses at the undergraduate level. Your grade must be no less than C, preferably higher.
If you are not eligible for a waiver of your GRE and MAT test scores, then these will need to be submitted.
A minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 on all undergraduate coursework, on a scale of 4.0. If you exceed other requirements, the school may consider no less than a score of 2.5.
In written essay form, detail your personal and career goals. Describe your motivation for pursuing graduate study and highlight how the program will ensure these goals are met.
All required immunizations must be in effect and the results of a thorough health check will need to be provided.
All criteria stipulated by the school must be submitted in full.

Tennessee MSN Salary & Job Outlook

The advantages of obtaining your MSN degree include a much higher salary, a one hundred percent employment rate, the ability to specialize in your preferred concentration and owning the sought-after expertise that will allow you to practice advanced patient care. Before completing the program, many students are already offered employment in lucrative positions. The opportunities available to those that take the time to enhance their career are well worth the rigorous effort involved.